The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Siuslaw Elementary School
Siuslaw Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Florence, a small coastal city at the mouth of the Siuslaw River on the Pacific Ocean. The school is part of the Siuslaw School District and is one of three schools in the district, along with a middle school and a high school. Florence sits roughly midway between Newport and Coos Bay on the Oregon Coast. Its economy historically relied on logging, commercial fishing, and agriculture, but tourism has grown in importance. About one-third of the population are retirees. The town has an Old Town riverfront district with shops and a boardwalk promenade, but much of the commercial activity lines the highway that runs through town, making parts of the area car-oriented. Home values in the Florence area are above the national average but below the Oregon median, and the housing market has seen a slight decline in the past year. The school itself is located on Oak Street, within the residential fabric of the town.
The student body is sizable for an elementary school serving these grades. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a community where economic need is common. The student population is predominantly white, with a notable share of students identifying as two or more races and a smaller Hispanic presence. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the most recent reporting, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
State assessment results from the 2024-2025 school year show that proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science are below the midpoint among districts in Lane County. In math, the share of students meeting proficiency standards was lower in fifth grade than in third and fourth grades. In English language arts, the rates were fairly consistent across grades, with fourth grade showing the highest. Science testing, which occurs only in fifth grade, also showed a relatively low proficiency rate. These are the only state assessment data available for this school; there is no multi-year trend because the current year is the only one reported. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across tested subjects and grades, places it below the median of the county’s school districts. A parent looking at these numbers should be aware that the school is working with a student population that faces economic challenges, and that may be a factor in the academic results.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data was also not available. No information on disciplinary practices, course access, or staffing ratios was provided in the data sources used here. The district brief turned up little about recent changes or initiatives that would affect the elementary school.
Siuslaw Elementary is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. It is the only elementary school in the district, so all students in the area who attend public school in these grades will come here. The school’s setting is a small coastal town with a mix of retirees and working families, a tourism-dependent economy, and a modest cost of living relative to the state. For families who live in Florence or the surrounding area, this is the neighborhood elementary school. The academic results are lower than many other elementary schools in Lane County, and the school serves a high-need population. A parent may want to discuss with the school how it supports students who are below grade level and what enrichment opportunities exist.
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